New wall cladding makes the boundary a feature but enhances the sense of space

In urban family gardens, space is usually limited and the demands for more is typically the order of the day. The previous garden had several shortcomings including inadequate patio space, a little jaded and overgrown planting scheme and an area which lacked some privacy. The design for the new layout was to retain a lawn area, replace the garden shed, extend the patio and a more prudent  selection of planting which make the area look smarter and nicer but not require regular maintenance. Busy parents care quite a lot about the garden area and often a simple yet smart layout is often the preferred solution. In this project, timber wall cladding was used very effectively to conceal the concrete block walls and make the boundary a much more appealing backdrop which influenced the type and style of new garden shed. Lawn area was optimised along with patio area and using lawn edging and bo hedging provides a smarter labour saving border along perimeter bed and lawn edging. The sweeping curving profile to patio extends seamlessly to become the path which leads along a planted border to the garden shed.

Sandstone patio which provides more space where required

Sandstone setts make a labour saving means of mowing the lawn edge

Most people will readily admit to loving Hedgehogs yet very few of us will ever encounter a live Hedgehog in the garden or the wild. Being solitary and nocturnal creatures, this  is hardly surprising. Sadly people are more likely to encounter a hedgehog as an accidental roadside casualty. Although the hedgehog’s sense of smell and hearing is very good, they do suffer from poor vision which increases their vulnerability. Mortality rates are also very high, approximately 20% of all hedgehogs will die within four weeks of birth otherwise the average lifespan is 3 years. Less than one in a thousand hedgehogs will live beyond ten years. Most alarming however is that most hedgehogs will die during hibernation. This despite hibernation being the hedgehog's natural and instinctive means of surviving without food sources during harsh winter weather. So it seems the life of this tiny creature is short and precarious.

Also worrying is the decline in the hedgehog population, which is finding it increasingly difficult to cope with loss of its natural habitat resulting from modern intensive farming and monoculture crop growing techniques. Deterioration in rural habitats combined with a lack of suitable habitats in urbanised environments are significant factors contributing threats to the decline in hedgehog populations.

We should take responsibility to learn more about this valuable natural garden predator which besides insects preys on slugs, snails, earthworms.

Some actions we can take to help:

• Cutting or strimming long grass can be hazardous to hedgehogs. To reduce casualties and avoid the risk of accidents, check area carefully before commencing any cutting.
• Slug pellets are usually safe and harmless to animals and contain only a tiny amount of the active ingredient (metaldehyde) necessary to kill slugs and under normal conditions this will pose no threat to hedgehogs. However this could change if the hedgehog was to ingest considerable amounts  (the equivalent required to kill 50 slugs) of poisoned slugs. Applying some common sense to using slug pellets sparingly and where possible removing poisoned slugs will all help reduce the risks.
• Hedgehogs naturally hibernate in nests which they will construct using primarily leaves and grasses but they will also nest in random manmade enclosures such as log pile. Hedgehogs also like to move location often (even during hibernation) and in the course of the year will live alone in several nest sites. Even in urban gardens, it is easily possible to make some simple provision and provide a secure shelter for these valuable gardeners allies.

Whenever possible lets do more to help hedgehogs survive and thrive.

In such circumstances where the design brief is clearly defined and well articulated makes the task less onerous and much more enjoyable. The process of creative design and discerning landscaping offers much potential of very satisfying and rewarding opportunities to exceed the clients expectations. The results will invariably speak for themselves and hopefully continue to do so for a very long time. The true value of family garden design and landscaping cannot be simply measured in cost terms or how well the new garden looks or is better than the previous one, but at a more fundamental level, one must also take account of hopefully the very many happy moments and occasions which will have been facilitated and made possible by investing time, effort and finance in creatively designing and landscaping with discernment the family garden.

Before - stepping the way to the garden Shed

Before - space to sit in the sun was limited

Morning patio

Afternoon/evening patio area

Route to shed is direct but less obvious

Good use of sweeping curves creates softer links to the various elements

Graceful bamboos are complemented with the bolder colours of lower planting

The gentle sweeping curves of sandstone raised planting beds

Raised Beds - practical yet ideal for informal seating and enhanced plant displays

A balanced approach to selecting plants for colourful seasonal displays

Water features are soothing additions but also compact striking focal points

Choisya Ternata

Although the month of May marks the official start of the summer season, it is usually prevailing weather conditions at the time which will determine what the season might be? By this time, much of the early spring growth will be manifesting itself with plenty of new emerging blooms and the rapid growth and re-emergence of beautiful new leaf growth, new buds and flowers of herbaceous perennial shrubs and flowers is a welcome sight to fill the gaps left by winter dormancy. May offers the gardener a temporary lull to take stock between the initial burst of spring activity and the summer garden schedule. The principal tasks this month will be to control the growth of annual weeds and maintain the lawn areas.

Other key tasks this month:

• Annual weeds will rapidly appear now and there are various means of control available. Mulching with bark or pebbles or home-made compost can help. Simply pulling out weeds by hand is tedious and reasonably successful, but you must remove the root also otherwise the chances of the weed re-growing are high.  Hoeing on dry days is less backbreaking and more successful as the hoed weeds will dry out and die quickly. A less labour intensive method is to use a systemic weedkiller (kills foliage and root) but be careful and avoid killing nearby plants.
• Shrubs are beginning to look their best now and the sight and scent of flowering shrubs such as Choisya Mexican Sundance or Choisya ternata simply captivating. Extend the enjoyment by considering complementary planting around perimeter of shrubs, using summer flowering annuals or reliable perennials like Primula can offer good contrast and additional seasonal interest
• May is a busy period for the lawn area, regular mowing, weeding, feeding (apply a fertiliser high in nitrogen essential for good grass growth) and watering (if required) is peaking now at this time of the year.
• Although the risk of frost is still a possibility, it is a good time to start preparing and planting up the pots and containers for summer flowering displays. Ensure that the growing medium is suitable for the plant, most are lime tolerant but popular acid loving plants (Skimmia, Pieris, Azaleas, Rhododenrons, Leucothe etc) will require specific soil or growing conditions i.e. ericaceous soils. Most plants prefer reasonably free draining soil conditions and add a layer of bark or pebble mulch to soil layer, which will help to conserve moisture.
• May marks the beginning of planting out summer flowering Dahlia tubers.
• Now is a good time to give ornamental hedges such as Box a trim to help retain shape.
• Check all plants in newly planted borders/gardens regularly to ensure there are no problems due to lack of moisture, or may have become loose in the ground because of windy conditions etc
• Only after flowering has finished, now is a very good time to prune to preferred size and shape spring flowering shrubs (Forsythia, Kerria, Spirea etc).
• Spray roses which are vulnerable to blackspot disease, especially in damper regions.

Choisya 'Mexican Sundance'

Growing lemon trees is a very rewarding way to create an attractive evergreen feature tree for the home, patio or garden, providing edible juicy fruits, scented winter flowers and aromatic leaves. Unlike many oranges which require warmer conditions year-round, lemon trees are surprisingly much hardier and are easy to grow in cooler conditions, making them a viable and useful addition to the garden.

Although the compact varieties are a popular indoor plant, some varieties will also grow well indoors or outdoors in sheltered positions. Larger trees will grow outdoors in the ground or in pots but will probably require some protection from frost. Planting for outdoors is best done in spring, which allows the plant to become well established ahead of winter.  When frost is expected simply wrap the trees in fleece or if grown in pots, move under cover. As the trees mature, they become more capable of withstanding the colder temperatures.

The Meyer lemon tree (Citrus x meyerei) is a very hardy and popular variety and by following these simple instructions will ensure your Meyer lemon tree will thrive and reward you with a bountiful harvest of lemons with juicy flesh, which is less acidic and sweeter tasting than other common lemon varieties:

• Lemon trees require full sun and sheltered positions
• Grow in neutral/slightly acidic well drained soil conditions
• During the growing season (March-October) apply a nitrogen enriched fertiliser
• Plants can be pruned to shape and to remove dead branches
• Irrigate with rain water if your tap water is alkaline

Prickly Holly - robust, evergreen and very beautiful

Homeowners might be well advised to carefully re-consider planting plans to deter uninvited guests and garden thieves. According to the latest research findings there does appear to be new data indicating a significant increase in garden theft during the summer months. According to insurance industry sources, an analysis of claims reveals that claims peak in July and August and are 40% higher than at the start of the year. Homeowners can improve security and make their home more secure by planting shrubs with thorns or prickly foliage.

When it comes to stealing from gardens, nothing is safe and the opportunistic thief is willing to steal anything including the family pet. Other items favoured by thieves include power tools (electric drills, saws etc) 42%, simple hand tools (garden spades, rakes) 39% and 19% were electric lawnmowers, chainsaws and ladders. Increasingly the authorities are asking homeowners to take more precautions e.g., fit alarms to garden sheds, install security lighting, lock all garden sheds and outbuildings, lock ladders etc.

Often burglars are lazy opportunists usually preferring to seek out easy opportunities in order to break and enter. A very good deterrent to deter unwanted garden visitors is to plant up the boundary walls with a prickly hedge or thorny shrubs. Here are some excellent examples which will provide a natural defence barrier to make your house and garden more secure:

Chaenomoles Japonica (Japanese Quince) – a strong and quick growing deciduous prickly shrub which can be easily grown as a hedge or espalier along a wall.

Firethorn (Pyracantha) – so prickly even gardeners fear pruning this robust evergreen climber which has lots of summer flowers and bountiful and valuable food source of berries to feed the birds in winter.

Ilex aquifolium (Holly) – a beautiful albeit slow growing evergreen shrub with very sharp prickly leaves.

Berberis julianae (Julian’s Barberry) – is a dense, upright evergreen shrub with ferocious long spikes.

Mahonia x media Charity – makes a very attractive upright evergreen shrub, producing wonderful fragrant flowers in winter. Foliage is very prickly and strong.

If you have a garden even a small garden, you will want to add your own design and style that suits your requirements, a layout which makes use of all available space, displays planting in an appealing yet practical way and room and space in which to sit, enjoy and refresh. The opportunity to sit and enjoy outdoors, next to lush colourful planting with the gentle soothing background sounds of trickling water is a most enjoyable experience. For many it offers an immediate chance to relax, for others it is an opportunity to escape to a discreet sanctury. Enjoyment and satisfaction can further enhanced by choosing natural finishes which are durable, practical and requiring only limited maintenance. Using energy efficient LED lighting also extends the appealing atmosphere for the night garden. Informal layouts of sweeping curves and warm colours are reminiscent of natural hues and textures. Pleasing aesthetics aside, the raised planting beds provide lots of informal seating possibilities as well as much scope for practical low maintenance planting solutions.

In small gardens making use of all available space is essential

An underwhelming water feature is somehow lost in an univiting space

When it comes to designing a small garden, it is important that most if not all the space be utilised productively. Designing isn’t solely concerned with the aesthetics or the style and range of features, plants etc but more importantly with defining a layout which is practical and fulfills the owners requirements. Looking nice might be attractive but being practical and attractive is much more appealing. As is typical of similar sized spaces, design is a function of function and form with the emphasis on the former. In this instance the owners being proud and loving owners of various family pets had reached the conclusion that retaining the lawn area was no longer feasible or desirable. A keen interest in plants as well as growing herbs and vegetables indicated that the preferred design was not only functional and easy to maintain but also  a space which looked well and stimulating. A unique feature of this townhouse garden was that the rear wall was part of an earlier development dating back almost 200 years and all agreed that it was an important element to retain within the new layout. In contrast the boundary walls looked rather bland and these would benefit from some remedial improvements including new rendering.

A key feature of the new design was the construction of new perimeter raised planting beds which defined the extended patio space, provided discreet plant protection from family pets, scope to segregate distinct zones for water feature, ornamental planting and herbs. For added stimulation an LED lighting scheme featuring uplighters and spike spots would add additional interest at night. Adding features provides visual as well as practical benefits but important to be balanced and avoid risking creating a cluttered space in a small garden. Sweeping curves are generally preferred in most gardens and probably more so in smaller spaces. Variable gentle curves to the raised beds provide a more inviting softer appeal and useful informal seating areas.

The critical objective in designing any small garden is to define the space in a practical but visual interesting way which should provide more space and scope for enjoyment.

Avoiding clutter during construction is a constant challenge

The water feature is repositioned to be of more interest

Preparing planting positions

Plants arrive following construction of raised planted beds

Designing for a harmonious blend of constrasting forms and textures

HERB BOX PLANTER

• Unbreakeable planters
• Weather resistant
• Lightweight
• UV resistant
• Practical elegance

Here’s the perfect planter for growing your favourite herbs or vegetables. Featuring a simple clean contemporary design, this is the ideal accessory for every garden. Manufactured with an extremely resistant but lightweight resin, this wonderful planter will not crack in winter or fade in summer. The Herb box planter is easy to handle and convenient to install. The top rims of the planters are rolled deep to provide a deep inner lip making the planters sturdy and elegant. For added time saving convenience the planters come with pre-drilled drainage holes.

Dimensions: 450mm x 450mm x 200mm (18” x 18” x 10”)

Price: € 49.50 (inclusive VAT @ 23.0%), available from GARDENSTUDIO (087 – 2306 128).

Sturdy elegant design

Pre-drilled drainage holes